Ordinary Joy

Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

The most ordinary moments in 2010 center around friendships.

I remember:

coffee with friends in front of fireplaces sipping lattes or mochas at Friedrichs, Cafe Diem, Amici Espresso, Smokey Row;

gulping water or Gatorade after a Monday evening run with friends from Capital Striders, sitting on a picnic table watching the sun go down and getting eaten by mosquitoes, but not caring too much either, slurping a popsicle after the Midnight Madness run, sweating off the heat and humidity;

getting a phone call from a friend after I had just prayed; now that seems fairly extraordinary

eating blueberry pie, Dutch letters, or walking to Snookies malt shop for ice cream with my small group on Thursday evenings;

What I remember about 2010 is having a lot of pleasant surprises. I'd like to live my 2011 with a lot more surprises and a lot of joy.

Joyful because it's about connecting from the heart with people who have heart.

God, I am filled with joy because of you, and I sing your praises. Psalm 9:2

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Soul Food

What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth and touched your soul?

I am soooo not a foodie. Not into making food, baking food, discussing food, or idolizing food, but somehow I manage to eat. Here are some of my favorite foods.

Favorite veggies: lima beans, radishes (one of my favorite childhood memories is having a butter and and radish slice open-face sandwich with my Mom on the back step)
Favorite fruit: strawberries, white grapes
Favorite juice: grapefruit juice
Favorite Blizzard: Midnight Truffle
Favorite breakfast before a run: Malt-O Meal, maple and brown sugar
Favorite peanut butter: Smuckers all natural
Favorite meal dining out: cashew chicken
Favorite meals I make: chili in the crock, pizza.

Here's my pizza recipe.

Mama Mary's pizza crust
olive oil
prepared pesto (Alessi)
tomato paste
World Classics artichoke and tomato antipasto
black olives, sliced
mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Drizzle both sides of pizza crust with olive oil. Bake until lightly brown on the bottom, 3-4 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread pesto and tomato paste on top of crust. Top pizza with artichoke and tomato antipasto, black olives, and mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 12-14 minutes.

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Everything's Okay

What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?

Clarity doesn't come quickly to me. I think, analyze, scrutinize, bend an idea up, down, around, sideways, backwards, and try to reason and make sense of it before making a decision. It's tiring being this analytical. I talk myself out of a lot of things. Unfortunately it also leads to assumptions, high expectations, and perfectionism. I've always wanted to be a quick thinker without 2nd guessing myself.

A personal philosophy of mine has always been to seek and understand. I'd add to that I also need to learn to trust that God already has it all figured out. And to think, he did it all without my help and musing!

The Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? (Job 38: 1, 2, 12)

Joyce Meyer said, "I once asked the Lord why so many people are confused and He said to me, 'Tell them to stop trying to figure everything out, and they will stop being confused.' Reasoning and confusion go together."

My devotion this morning said, "Ask God to help you give your trust entirely to him this coming year, and then watch what he does in your life."

That releases me from a lot of worry. I'm doing it.

Watch what he does in my life. Try it with me.

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New Name

Leo Reynolds
flickr image

Let's meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? 
You can call me Jan or you can call me Janet, but don't call me Janice, Jana, Jeanette, or Janey. 

In 3rd grade I began signing my papers Jan. Jan Brady was a big influence. My family and friends began calling me Jan and my college friends still call me Jan. When I hear them call me my familiar name, it invites memories of studying at the front library tables, basketball games during interterm, racquetball challenges, Funyuns, Hookman parties, life-long friends, identity, ownership of self. Me, myself, I.

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Travel

How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? 

Planes, trains, automobiles. Happily seeking with wonder. A text surprise. Losing myself and losing my path, but not losing my way. Running into something. Running away from nothing. Races. New faces. Well-worn paths. Regrets: I’ve had a few. Facing fears. Screwing up. Falling down. Getting back up again. Being encouraged. Laughter. Significant. Discovered. Are you anything like me?

 

It’s not often that I want to lather, rinse, and repeat a year, but there are paths from 2010 that I’d take all over again.


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Future Self

Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead?  Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?

Advice for my future self: 

You got it babe, you got it. Endure. Like people. Smile often. Do the new thing. Celebrate mile markers. Enjoy the adventure. Count your blessings. Show your heart. Take the risk. Step up. Lead. Humble yourself. Serve. Go through the open door. 

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